My early experience came as a sophomore in high school. I was going through many challenges in public school like fights, grades, and just a bad attitude towards anything having to do with school. I couldn’t quit find any motivation to push myself to that next level because of all the distractions that I allowed to distract me. My grades were poor and needed major help, just was not sure on what to do. A childhood friend whose dad is a pastor, had heard through the community that I was struggling and was headed down the wrong path. He came and spoke with me and really touched me with his words. He stated that I am here for a reason and that I have to good of heart to do the wrong thing.  Not having a true father figure in my life made it hard to want to listen to someone who is not my father. However, I took his words of wisdom in and I ran with it. He suggested that I make a change and switch schools because the way I was headed would probably get me kicked out anyway. He was a pastor at a private school called Capital Christian High School and advised that school for me. Me playing football made it hard to step back and want to attend a private school that was not big for sports. However, their education was phenomenal and could push me to the level I needed to be at. With the position I was in and a quick decision to be made, I took the advice given by the pastor and changed schools. I was able to get involved with a smaller school and receive personal attention that I wasn’t able to at public school. The teachers really wanted the best for me and took many hours to tutor me and make sure I knew the information fully. Capital Christian and my friends Father had a huge impact on my education and getting me back on track. Like Fredrick Douglas, I felt like I was stuck in an uncomfortable position (public school and Douglas’s slavery) and had to rely on another source to get out.